Socket



Aug. 23, 1938. L. T. FREDERICK 2,128,132

SOCKET y Filed Oct. 12, 1932 2 Sheetsj-Sheet l L. T. FREDERICK Aug. 23,1938./

SOCKET Filed oct. 1*'2, 1952 2 sheets-sheet 2 o@ @Q QW, o Q@ O0 Q@'Patented Aug. 2 3, 1938 SOCKET Louis 'I'. Frederick, Valparaiso, Ind.,assignor Lto Continental-Diamond Fibre Company, Newark, Del., acorporation of Delaware Animation october' 12, 1932, serial No. 631.504

e claims. (01. 17a- 32m This invention relates to socket devices, and.

particularly to sockets for vacuum tubes which are adapted" to receivethe cylindrical contact prongs of vacuum tubes.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved socketof simple construction which may be manufactured at low cost and whichembodies novel structural features that greatly enhance the performanceof its intended function.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the provision in a' socket of acontact element comprising a tubular barrel or eyelet portion and aterminal lug extending therefrom, the barrel portion being adapted toreceive, engage and wipe an inserted.` contact prong and the terminallug affording a means of electrical connection to the socket-element.A'plurality of such socket elements are threaded into a mounting platewhich is secured to the underside of the base plate.

These generally stated features, as well as others, will be more fullydescribed hereinafter, reference being now had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an inverted assembledsocket utilizing a `preferred form of contact element;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the socket taken along a diametric linepassing through the center of one of the contact elements;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of an alternative construction;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view along line l-l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a face view of the stamped sheet metal blank from which'asocket element is formed;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the formed socket element;

Fig. 7 is a perspective View oi a modified form of socket element;

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the socket element of Fig. '1;

Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view of an inverted assembled socket usinga still further modication of the socket element, the View being takenalong the line passing through the center of the contact element;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view' of this form of contact element;

Fig. 11 is a perspective( view of a modified form of the mounting platewhich is used in the embodiment of Figs. 9 and 10;

Figs. 12 and 13 are face views of portions of a metal strip or sheetduring the formation of contact elements of the preferred form;

Figs. 14 and'1`5 are side views of the portions; and

Fig. 16 is-a sectional view along line lil-I6 o! Fig. 13.

Referring particularly to Figs 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a`socket comprising a base plate i having mounting ears 2, a mountingplate 3; and contact elements 4, this devicebee"Y ing adapted for usewith a iive-prongvacuum tube, although, it will beundersood thattheinvention is applicable to any device regardless of the number ofcontact elements used. Mounting plate 3 is provided with a plurality ofcircularly arranged apertures 6 through which the contact elements 4 arethreaded. Base plate I is provided with similar apertures 5a alignedwith apertures 5. and adapted to receive the prongs of a tube. Themounting plate is also provided with a central aperture 6 which alignswith a central aperture I in the base plate I, these aligning aperturesbeing adapted to receive an attaching rivet 8 or the like.

The contact elements 4 are of similar construction and each is formedfrom a sheet metal stamping or blank, such as is shown clearly in Fig.5. After'the formation or the blank, the

contactelement is formed by bending or pressing the blank to form theiinished article illustrated clearly in Fig. 6. When thus formed, the

contact element comprises a frusto-conical barrel portion whichpreferably, though not necessarily,

has longitudinal slits I0 therein. It will be noted that the blank ofFlgp, from which the element is formed, is substantially T-shaped andthe head of this blank'is rounded or circularly bent to form thei'rusto-conical barrel portion.

'Ihe contact element also comprises a terminal lug il which extendslaterally from one end of the barrel portion and is bent as clearlyillustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 6. The terminal lug may have formedthereon a knob-like projection I2, the purpose of which will appear moreclearly hereinafter. The angularly extending end of the terminal lug isprovided with suitable apertures i3 for the attachment of an electricalcoinductor. It will be noted from Fig. 6 that the large end or base ofthe frusto-conical barrel portion is flanged as at Il. This large end ofthe barrel portion is of such diameter that it will freely receive acontact prong of a vacuum tube, while the small end of the barrelportion is of such diameter that it will not freely receive the prong.When the prong is inserted into the barrel portion thro'ugh the largeend thereof, it engages and is wiped by the wall of the barrel portionat the with slit-like apertures 5c.

, are threaded through openings 5 and 5c, as clearcontact element inplace.

small end thereof. This results in a spreading of the small end of thebarrel and gives very good electrical contact between the prong and thecontact element, especially since the element is formed of spring metal.A

After the contact elements have been formed in the manner abovedescribed, they are threaded 'illustrated clearly in Fig. 2. When thecontact elements are threaded through the mounting plate, thespring-like terminal lug allows the projecting knob I2 to snap over themounting plate so as to securely hold each contact element `in place.The flange Il of each contact element seats against and engages themounting plate about the aperture thereof so as to also hold the Ihavefound that the projecting knob I2 is not necessary because thespring-like terminal lug frictionally engages the edge of tnemountingplate to securely lock the contact element in pace. The projecting knobis, therefore, an optional feature.

After the contact elements have been assemble on the mounting plate, theplate is attached to the base plate I by gmeans of rivet 8 abovementioned. A finder ring or plate I5 may be provided to facilitateinsertion of the tube prongs In the socket. This ring has aperturedmounting ears which align withthe ears 2 of the base'plate and permitits attachment to the base plate. The centrally located aperture I6 ofthe finder ring is of such diameter that it circumscribes the openingsin the base plate through which the tube prongs are inserted. y

An alternative construction is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, wherein themounting plate 3a is of the same shape as the base plate I and isprovided The socket elements ly illustrated. The lug I I of each socketelement is tapered at 28 and the tapered portion thereof seats snugly inthe recess 30 of aperture 5c. The lug is tensioned toward the center ofthev socket element. When the element is threaded into the mountingplate apertures, the lug I I passes freely .through'the wide portion ofaperture 5c and the tapered portion of the lugyenters the recess 30, asabove noted, to immobilize the element. Projections I2 are omitted.Instead of the finder ring I5 there is provided a plate or `button I5awhich is circumscribed by theopenings 5 a in plate I. This button servesthe same purpose as the finderring, viz. to guide the tube prongs intothe socket. The central rivet holds the plates together.

The sockets illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 are of simple construction andmay be 4manufactured commercially at low cost. The socket elements maybe formed in a few simple operations and, byvirtue of their integralformation, are strong and durable. The specific construction of theseelements and the manner in which they are assembled and attached to thebase plate are important features which mutually contribute toward aninexpensive but highly satisfactory article.

The preferred form of the socket element illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 anddescribed in detail above lends itself to economic commercialmanufacture and may bemade in the manner illustrated in-Figs. 12 to 16.Referring specifically to Figs.

12 and 13, there is shown a strip or sheet I1 of spring metal which isintended to be a continuous strip from which successive socket elementsar,e formed in successive steps. Figs. 12 and 1 3, when consideredtogether, illustrate a length pf strip I'I showing the various stages offormation of the socket elements. It is intended then that Fig. 13 beconsidered as placed at the right hand side of Fig. 12 and that thestrip portions illustrated be integral. Figs. 14 and 15 are similar sideviews of the strip portions and are likewise to be considered asconstituting a continuous strip.

Beginning at the left side of the illustration of formation of a socketelement is to punch the holes I 3 in strip I1. The next step is thestamping out of the blank which has already been described in connectionwith Fig. 5. It will be noted that the blanks are substantiallycompletely stamped from strip I1, there being only a small portion I 8left integral with the strip. Slits II) are now cut in the blanks. Theside wing-like portions I9 of the blank are now bent away from strip I1,as indicated more clearly in Fig. 14. The extending edges of thewing-like portions are now brought together as indicated clearly at 20and the preformed barrel portion is bent at right angles to the strip.The ilangev the socket element being raised outof the plane' of stripIl, as illustrated clearly at22 (see Fig.

16). The completely formed sock/et element is now severed or broken awayfrom strip I1 and is readyfor use.

It is important to note that the substantially T-shaped blank, which isused to form the socket element, may be formed with very little wastefrom a continuous strip, as illustrated. By

I stamping the successive blanks from the strip in dovetailed orinterdentate fashion, as clearly illustrated, substantially all of thematerialof the strip is utilized, there being only a small amount ofscrap. This is a very important feature of vthe device which greatlyenhances its commercial value in practice. While the successiveoperations, which are performed upon the continuous strip as illustratedand above described,l may be carried out by hand-operated devices, inactual practice, it is preferable to provide a single machine havingautomatically operable parts that are adapted to successively performthe necessary operations. By having the parts of the machine arranged tooperate in succession at pre determined time intervals, and feeding thestrip into the machine at a'proper rate or speed. a large number ofsocket elements may be formed per unit time at little cost. Suchmachines as that mentioned are old in various arts and are commonly usedin mass" production. For the purpose of the present invention, it isunnecessary to mention further the particular machine which would beused. l It mightl be well to state, however, that the illustrations ofFigs. 12 to 16 have been taken fromA an actual sample produced by amachine of the type mentioned which has been put into operation.

- Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, there is dis-v closed a modified formof contact element which Fig. 12, it will be noted that the rst step inthe is generally similar to the form above describedand is adapted foruse in the same general manner. In this instance, however, the tubularbarrel portion 9a ls substantially cylindrical in shape and isprovided-with inwardly pressed portions 23 which are adapted to firmlyengage and wipe ,the tube prong .as it passes through the barrelportion. The prong-engaging portions 23 are preferably formed bystriking-out spaced longitudinal strips and pressing these stripsinward. In this modification, the barrel portion is provided withinterlocking, interdentate edges 2l and 25. While a dovetailconstruction of these edges is illustrated, any other suitableconstruction giving the desired interlocking coaction may be utilized.Aside from these differences, the contact element is identical with thatabove described. In constructing this form of contact element, ametallic stamping or blank is formed and the element is formed bybending or pressing the blank to the form clearly illustrated in Fig. 7.This form of element may be made in the same manner as is the preferredform.

In Figs. 9 to 11, there is illustrated a further modification, in whichthe contact element takes the same general form, having a barrel portion9b and a terminal lug IIb. The barrel portion is drawn from a blank soas. to provide the body thereof and the flanged end I4b. The body ispressed into polygonal cross section over a portion of its length, itbeing formed triangularly in the illustration of Figs. 10 and 11. Itwill be understood, however, that any polygonal-shape` may be impartedto thev barrel portion. In the formation of the barrel portion,longitudinal slits 26 are provided and arranged so ,that they arelocated in the sides of the polygonal structure. The purpose of thisconstruction is also to obtain good electrical contact between the tubeprong and the contact element.

It is preferred that this form of socket device be used with a mountingplate such as is illustrated in Fig. 11. This plate 3b is provided witha'plurality of circularly arranged aperturesV 5b having radiallydisposed recess portions 21. The purpose of these recesses i's tocooperate with a detent 28 struck-out and turned up from the horizontalportion of terminal lug IIb. When the socketl element is completelyformed, as illustrated and above described, it will be threaded throughone of openings 5b with the terminal lug 'extending radially outward andwith detent 28 extending into recess 21 as illustrated in Fig. 9.Although this construction is preferred, it will be understood that thesocket element may be used with any other desired locking means such,for example, as provided in the preferred embodiment.

It will be noted that the eyelet portion of this form of socket deviceis seamless and, as stated above, the element is formed by drawing thebarrel portion from the blank. Obviously, this form of device may bemade in large quantities commercially in the same general manner asillustrated and described above in connection with the preferred form.

Although the invention has been disclosed herein with reference tocertain specific embodiments and a preferred method of making thevarious devices, it will be apparent that changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a socket, a mounting plate having a pair of openings therein, oneof said openings being slit-like and having a recess, and a contactelement comprising a tubular prong-receiving barrel portion and atapered terminal lug extending therefrom, said barrel portion extendingthrough the other of said openings, said lug extending through saidslit-like opening and being adapted to pass freely therethrough buttensioned so that its tapered portion seats snugly insaid re-v cess toimmobilize said element. l

2. In a socket, a mounting plate having a pair of openings therein, oneof said openings being slit-like and having a recess, and a contactelement comprising a prong-engaging portion and a tapered terminal lugextending therefromsaid prong-engaging portion extending through theother of said openings, said lug extending through said one opening withits tapered portion seated in said recess.

3. An electrical socket receptacle for a vacuum tube having a'terminalprong, comprising a pair of thin superposed apertured insulating plateswith an aperture of one plate in alignment with an aperture of the otherplate to receive said prong, a metallic contact'member composed of asingle piece of thin resilient metal and comprising a flat anchoringpart disposed between said plates and an angularly divergent contactpart extending from said anchoring part through one of the apertures andaligned with the said apertures to receive said prong, said contact partcomprising a portion formed as an angularly divergent prolongation ofsaid yanchoring part and a pair of wings or arms extending from saidportion in a direction parallel to said plates and directed toward eachother about an axis perpendicular to said plates, the said wings formingwith said portion a channel generally conformable to the contour of saidprong and aligned axially with said apertures to receive and resilientlygrip said prong'when it is inserted through said apertures, saidprong-receiving channel having inherent expansibility andcontractibility by virtue of lthe resilience of said wings and adaptedto engage the inserted prong along a plurality of longitudinal lines ofcontact extending substantially the length of said channel, whereby goodelectrical contact with said prong and secure holding of the prong aremaintained.

4. An electrical socket receptacle for a vacuum tube having a terminalprong, comprising a pair of thin superposed apertured insulating plateswith an aperture of one plate in alignment with an aperture of the otherplate to receive said prong, a metallic contact member composed of asingle piece of thin resilient metal and comprising a fiat anchoringpart gripped between said plates and an angularly divergent contactvpart extending from said anchoring part through one of the aperturesand aligned with the said apertures to receive said prong, said platesbeing separated only by the trickness of said fiat anchoring part andengaging the opposed flat surfaces of said anchoring part throughout theareas of said surfaces, said contact part com.- pri'sing a portionformed as an angularly divergent ,prolongation of said anchoring partand a pair of wings or arms extending from said portion in a directionparallel to said plates and directed. toward each other about an axisperpendicular to said plates, the said wings forming with said portion achannel generally conformable to the contour of said prong and alignedaxially with said apertures to receive and resiliently grip said prongwhen it is inserted through said apertures, said prong-receiving channelhavsaid vplates at the supported end of said channel for supporting saidcontact part at points spaced i'rom said gripping'part.

'5. Anfelectrical socket receptacle for a vacuum tubey having a terminalprong, comprising a pair of thin superposed apertured insulating plateswith an aperture of one plate in alignment ,with an aperture of theother plate to receive'said prong, a metallic contact member composed ofa single piece ofthin resilient metal and comprising a ilat anchoringpart gripped between said plates and an angularly divergent contact partextending from said anchoring part through one of the apertures andaligned with the said apertures to receive said prong, said plates beingseparated only by the thickness of said nat anchoring part andengagingthe opposed iiat surfaces of said anchoring part throughout theareas of said surfaces, said contact part comprising a portion formed asan angularly divergent prolongation of said anchoring part and a pair ofwings or arms extending from said portion in `a direction parallel `tosaid plates and directed toward each other about an axis perpendicularto said plates, the said wings forming with said portion a channelgenerally conformable to the contourof said prong and aligned axially.with said apertures to receive and resiliently grip said prong when itis inserted through said apertures, said prong-receiving channel havinginherent expansibility and contractibility by virtue of the resilienceof said wings and having a smooth projectionless inner surface adaptedto engage and wipe the inserted prong throughout the length of saidchannel, said contact part hav'- ing longitudinal slits therein tosupplement its resilient vgripping of the prong, whereby good electricalcontact with said prong and secure holding of the prong are maintained.l

6. An electrical socket receptacle for a vacuum tube having aKterminalprong, comprising a pair of thin'superposed aperturedinsulating plateswith an aperture of one plate in alignment with an aperture of the otherplate to receive said prong, a' metallic contact member composed of asingle piece of thin resilient metal and comprising a contact part, aterminal part, and a ilat anchoring 'part connecting the contact part fone ot the apertures and aligned with the apertures to receive saidprong, said contact part comprising a portion formed as an angularlydivergent prolongation of said anchoring part and a pair of wings orarms extending from said portion in a direction parallel to said platesand directed toward each other about an axis perpendicular to 'saidplates, the said wings forming with s aid portion a channel generallyconformableto the contourof said prong and aligned axially with saidapertures to receive and resiliently grip said prong' when it isinserted through said apertures, said prong-receiving channel havinginherent expansibility and contractibility by virtue of the resilienceof said wings and having a smooth projectionless inner surface adaptedto engage and wipe the inserted prong throughout the length ofsaidchannel.' whereby good electrical contact with 4said. prong and secureholding of the prong are maintained, and fiat supporting means extendingfrom said wings between said plates atv the supported end of saidchannel for supporting said contact part at points 'spaced from saidgripping part. i

LOUIS T. FREDERICK.

